02/18          Romans 15:1

1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 

BE

We belong to Jesus and not to ourselves.  We do not have the right to hold ourselves out as experts and then not love one another.  For love is of Jesus and it is the overarching commandment Jesus gave us as His followers.  Love one another.  Stop spending time exhorting others about their shortcomings.  Preach and teach the loveliness of Jesus.  He is Lord and there is no other name by which we might be saved.  Jesus. 

02/17          Romans 14:22 

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

QUIET
Sometimes we are called to be quiet about what we think.  We do not claim our prerogatives.  Instead we assert God’s love and our humility and willingness to serve others.  

02/16          Romans 14:19-21 

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

EXACTLY
We are responsible for others.  When we understand this we know exactly what the Lord has called us to do.  

02/15          Romans 14:17-18 

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 

CARE

The Lord cares for people.  It is important for us to understand that our call is to care for people.  The Lord cares for us and we are His hands and feet in caring for others.  People count.  You count.  Serve. 

02/14          Romans 14:14-16 

I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.  15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 

DEBT
We owe each other love from a pure heart and a committed mind.  When we do for others we are serving Jesus.  When we care for our neighbor we are caring with the hands of God.  

02/13          Romans 14:12-13 

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 

SERVE

Serve the Lord with gladness and love one another.  People need love.  People need people who care.  

02/12          Romans 14:10-11 

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister ? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  11 It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” 

JUDGE

Do not judge.  When we point one finger of judgment at others there are three fingers pointing at us.  We never know what a person is dealing with and we are never without guilt.  We cannot judge with complete knowledge and/or without bias.  Love the Lord.  Love one another.  

02/11          Romans 14:7 -9

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 

FREE

We are free from slavery when we have Jesus.  He sets us free from all the things that condemn us.  We are strong in Jesus.  Weak in self. 

02/10          Romans 14:5-6 

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.  6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 

HARMONY
When we bend the knee to God, giving thanks for all things we discover how important gratitude is in our view of who we are.  We are His children and as such will act more like Jesus every day.  God is love and He is calling us to love one another.  

02/09          Romans 14:4 

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 

CAREFUL

Be careful what you think and say.  First take it to the Lord.  Is it kind?  Is it proper?  When criticize someone we are elevating ourselves and saying I’m better than them because ….  We are children of God and as His child we love one another and lead humble, unassuming lives.  Love the Lord and love His people.